Trump's China Visit Wraps, SCOTUS Mifepristone, Kier Starmer Under Pressure To Resign

Summary

Podcast Summary: Up First from NPR

Episode: Trump's China Visit Wraps, SCOTUS Mifepristone, Kier Starmer Under Pressure To Resign
Date: May 15, 2026
Hosts: Steve Inskeep, Michelle Martin
Guests: Tamara Keith, Selena Simmons-Duffin, Lauren Frayer

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Episode Overview

This episode covers three major stories:

1. President Trump's visit to China—evaluating the outcomes of new trade discussions and shifting U.S.–China relations.
2. U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on mifepristone (abortion pill) access—the latest on telemedicine abortion and ongoing legal battles.
3. Political turmoil for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer—leadership challenges within his party amid surging popularity of the far right.

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1. President Trump's China Visit: Outcomes and Uncertainties

[01:19–05:11]

Key Discussion Points

• Length and significance of the visit:
  • President Trump spent 43 hours in China, meeting with President Xi Jinping and discussing trade, regional security, and bilateral relations.
• Trade deals (“Three Bs”—Beans, Beef, Boeing):
  • Trump announced "fantastic trade deals," highlighting agreements on soybeans, beef, and, notably, Boeing jets.
  • However, there’s uncertainty about the firmness of these deals:

    “Boeing, Boeing, 200 big ones. That’s a lot of jobs. Boeing wanted 150, got 200 he said sort of, I think it was a commitment. I mean, you know, sort of like a statement, but I think it was a commitment. It’s a great thing.”
    —Donald Trump [02:24]

  • Correspondent Tamara Keith cautions that China has a history of making large purchase commitments but not following through:

    “I will note that equivocation there. Even as the president was celebrating this deal, he didn’t sound totally solid on it.”
    —Tamara Keith [02:47]

• Calming trade tensions:
  • While big details remain uncertain, the visit further stabilizes a trade truce following last year’s damaging trade war.
• Discussion of Iran and regional security:
  • Trump claims both leaders agreed Iran shouldn’t acquire nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open, but no concrete commitments from China to pressure Iran.

    “It doesn’t appear that Trump has secured any commitments from China to help pressure Iran to reopen the strait or to agree to turn over its nuclear material.”
    —Tamara Keith [03:40]

• Personal dynamics and optics:
  • President Xi gave Trump unusually personal treatment, hosting him for lunch and tea at his own compound.
  • Trump’s admiration for Xi was effusive and personal, as heard in his Fox News interview:

    “If you went to Hollywood and you looked for a leader of China to play a role in a movie. Central casting. Central casting. You wouldn’t, you couldn’t find a guy like him.”
    —Donald Trump [04:29]

  • Tamara Keith notes the asymmetry: Xi focuses on national ties while Trump praises Xi as an individual.

Memorable Moment:

• “Central casting is the ultimate Trump compliment.”
  —Tamara Keith [04:50]

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2. Supreme Court Maintains Status Quo on Abortion Pill Mifepristone

[05:11–08:54]

Key Discussion Points

• Current legal standing:
  • The Supreme Court temporarily blocks new restrictions that would have limited access to mifepristone, preserving telemedicine options and mail delivery.
  • The court issued its order after a tense delay past their own deadline:

    “So they set themselves a 5pm Eastern deadline, went right past that deadline, and then finally issued an unsigned order at 5:30pm Eastern.”
    —Selena Simmons-Duffin [05:43]

• Impact of telemedicine:
  • Telemedicine now accounts for a quarter of all abortions in the U.S., including in states with bans.
  • Access via telemedicine is credited, alongside mifepristone’s safety record, for keeping abortion numbers steady despite state bans.

    “Telemedicine access is a big part of the reason why the overall number of abortions hasn’t gone down at all, despite the state bans.”
    —Selena Simmons-Duffin [06:28]

• FDA’s unusual role:
  • FDA is the named defendant in the case but did not submit a brief to the Supreme Court, reasoning they are conducting a new review of mifepristone’s safety under political pressure.
  • FDA wishes to pause litigation pending their review, but the appeals court and the Supreme Court have not followed this route.
• Split decision and reactions:
  • Two justices—Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas—dissented.

    “Alito called the decision of his fellow justices unreasoned and remarkable. And Clarence Thomas called the work of the two drug makers a, quote, ‘criminal enterprise.’”
    —Selena Simmons-Duffin [08:25]

• What comes next:
  • Case returns to lower courts; FDA leadership changes could add new uncertainty.

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3. Keir Starmer Under Pressure: UK Labour’s Leadership Crisis

[09:05–12:45]

Key Discussion Points

• Political crisis for Labour leader Keir Starmer:
  • Starmer faces internal calls to resign despite a large parliamentary majority, driven by:
    • Plunging approval ratings,
    • Perception of failing to deliver on key government promises,
    • Labour’s poor showing at the municipal level against far right Reform Party.
  • Comparison drawn with turbulent post-Brexit British politics.

    “Since then, Starmer’s approval ratings have plunged to some of the lowest in history. Polls show voters think he has not delivered on promises to improve government services, help with the cost of living. He’s seen as kind of wooden, unable to connect with regular folks…”
    —Lauren Frayer [09:37]

• Starmer’s defense:
  • Cites external factors (war with Iran, Trump’s tariffs, slow economic recovery).
  • Acknowledges an issue communicating achievements:

    “I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”
    —Keir Starmer [10:47]

• Potential challengers:
  • Wes Streeting (Health Secretary) resigned and could run.
  • Angela Rayner (Deputy PM) may run after being cleared in a tax scandal.
  • Most popular alternative: Andy Burnham, “King of the North”—but not yet an MP. Must win a special election first.

    “He first needs to run in a special election for a vacant seat in Parliament. That would likely be in late June. He has to win that election, which the far right is contesting too, and only after that would he be able to challenge Starmer.”
    —Lauren Frayer [11:29]

• Uncertain outcome:
  • Burnham faces tough far-right competition in the upcoming special election.
  • If Burnham wins, he can directly challenge Starmer; if not, Starmer may limp on by default.

Memorable Moment:

• Politics is likened to the TV show “Traitors”:

  “The ruling party is divided into those faithful to the Prime Minister and those who are secretly plotting against him.”
  —Lauren Frayer [11:29]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• China visit/trade negotiations: [01:19–05:11]
• Mifepristone/Supreme Court: [05:11–08:54]
• UK Labour Party/Starmer: [09:05–12:45]

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Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump on trade deals:
  “Boeing, Boeing, 200 big ones. That’s a lot of jobs. Boeing wanted 150, got 200 he said sort of, I think it was a commitment. I mean, you know, sort of like a statement, but I think it was a commitment. It’s a great thing.” [02:24]

• Tamara Keith on Trump’s praise of Xi:
  “Central casting is the ultimate Trump compliment.” [04:50]

• Selena Simmons-Duffin on the Supreme Court’s action:
  “So they set themselves a 5pm Eastern deadline, went right past that deadline, and then finally issued an unsigned order at 5:30pm Eastern.” [05:43]

• Lauren Frayer on Labour politics:
  “The ruling party is divided into those faithful to the Prime Minister and those who are secretly plotting against him.” [11:29]

• Keir Starmer facing doubts:
  “I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.” [10:47]

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains NPR’s trademark straight-ahead, analytical, and globally minded reporting, balancing skepticism with fair summaries. There’s a mix of dry humor (e.g., “central casting” banter) and serious reflection on political stakes in the U.S., China, and the UK.

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First delivers a comprehensive and timely overview of high-stakes international diplomacy, U.S. legal developments on reproductive rights, and the shifting ground of British politics—all with balanced analysis and memorable insights from NPR’s experienced correspondents.

Transcript

[Steve Inskeep]

President Trump starts home to Washington claiming he made fantastic deals with China.

[Michelle Martin]

But in talking about those deals, he seemed less certain that they were complete. So what did a visit to China accomplish?

[Steve Inskeep]

I'm Steve Inskeep in Beijing with Michelle Martin in Washington, D.C. and this is up first from NPR News. The abortion pill mifepristone is still available to Americans over the phone and through video visits, the media. The Supreme Court put a hold on an order that would have restricted how the medication is prescribed.

[Michelle Martin]

And British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure from within his own party to step down.

[Keir Starmer]

I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.

[Michelle Martin]

Candidates are already emerging to challenge him for his job. Is Starmer's fate already sealed? Stay with us. We'll give you news you need to start your day.

[Pop Culture Happy Hour Host]

New shows, new music, new movies. Keeping up with pop culture sometimes feels like a full time job. Thankfully, over at Pop Culture Happy Hour, it's literally our job. We break down what's actually worth watching, listening to and pretending you already knew about. So the next time someone says, did you see that? You can say, yeah, obviously. Follow NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

[Steve Inskeep]

President Trump has left here after about 43 hours in China.

[Donald Trump]

This has been an incredible visit. I think a lot of, a lot of good has come of it. We've made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries.

[Michelle Martin]

Trump said this at the compound where China's President Xi Jinping lives and works. Soon after Trump departed on Air Force One, he left questions about how real those deals actually are.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR senior political correspondent Tamara Keith is with us in Beijing, right next to me here. Hi, Tam.

[Tamara Keith]

Hello.

[Steve Inskeep]

Glad to see you once again. You've reminded me of this saying in US China relations about the three Bs, beans, beef, Boeing, things America wants to sell to China. So will China buy?

[Tamara Keith]

Well, we haven't seen anything in writing yet, but administration officials and President Trump have been making the rounds, doing interviews, and the picture is coming together. And yes, those three Bs are a big part of it. There's been some movement to allow US Beef producers to resume exports to China. And President Trump in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News said China would be buying lot of soybeans and Boeing aircraft.

[Donald Trump]

One thing he agreed to today is going to order 200 jets. That's a big thing. Boeing, Boeing, 200 big ones. That's a lot of jobs. It's a lot. Boeing wanted 150, got 200 he said sort of, I think it was a commitment. I mean, you know, sort of like a statement, but I think it was a commitment. It's a great thing. It's a lot of jobs.

[Tamara Keith]

I will note that equivocation there. Even as the president was celebrating this deal, he didn't sound totally solid on it. China has made purchase commitments in the past, only to fall short. The bigger picture here, though, is that a year ago, there was a raging and destructive trade war between the two nations. Last fall, Trump and Xi got together and brought things to something of a truce. And this visit further stabilizes that truce.

[Steve Inskeep]

How did they talk about the war with Iran?

[Tamara Keith]

Both sides mentioned a discussion of the situation in the Middle east, though President Trump did go into more detail than the Chinese Chinese readout of the meeting. He said that he and President Xi had agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should be open for navigation and that Iran shouldn't be charging a toll. He said they also agreed that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon, but that wasn't really the question.

[Steve Inskeep]

Sure.

[Tamara Keith]

And it doesn't appear that Trump has secured any commitments from China to help pressure Iran to reopen the strait or to agree to turn over its nuclear material as part of a peace agreement.

[Steve Inskeep]

Tam, I know you watch policy statements on a trip like this, but you also watch the people, especially for these two leaders who personally assume so much power. So what stands out for you?

[Tamara Keith]

Well, today President Xi hosted Trump for tea and lunch in a private compound where he lives, and they admired the roses together. This was special treatment that most visiting leaders don't get. And the thought I keep coming back to is just how much Trump has praised Xi personally, while Xi's remarks have stuck to the long term relationship between the two nations. Here is a moment from that Hannity interview where Trump describes Xi as all no games.

[Donald Trump]

If you went to Hollywood and you looked for a leader of China to play a role in a movie. Central casting. Central casting. You wouldn't, you couldn't find a guy like him. Even his, his physical features, you know, he's tall, very tall. And especially for this country because they tend to be a little bit shorter.

[Tamara Keith]

Central casting is the ultimate Trump compliment.

[Steve Inskeep]

Tam, I like to think of you as central casting for White House correspondent. So it's good you're here.

[Tamara Keith]

Short for a White House correspondent.

[Donald Trump]

No, no, no.

[Steve Inskeep]

Know. Anyway, safe travels home. Thank you, npr. Tamara Keith.

[Michelle Martin]

Doctors are still allowed to prescribe the abortion pill mifepristone over the phone and through video visits. And patients can still receive it through the mail or in a local pharmacy.

[Steve Inskeep]

That's because the Supreme Court kept the status quo in place in a case that is challenging doctors ability to prescribe the drug remotely. The court gave itself a Thursday deadline to decide what to do.

[Michelle Martin]

NPRICilian Simmons Duffin is here to tell us more about this. Good morning, Selena.

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

Good morning, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So it's kind of one of those heart pounding days yesterday, kind of watching the court. What did the court do eventually?

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

Yeah, so they set themselves a 5pm Eastern deadline, went right past that deadline, and then finally issued an unsigned order at 5:30pm Eastern. So a nail biting couple of minutes there. But what they did is that they granted an emergency request from two drug makers to put a hold on an appeals court order that would have put new restrictions on access to mifepristone. Specifically, it would have required patients to go in person to a clinic or a doctor's office to receive the medication. So the justices have issued a stay pending appeal in the case. So telemedicine access can continue as it has been while this case plays out in the lower courts.

[Michelle Martin]

And Selena, you've been reporting that telemedicine has become a key way that people have been getting abortions. Is that right?

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

That's right. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly four years ago, telemedicine abortion has grown and grown, and it now accounts for a quarter of all abortion abortions in the country. Some of those abortions are happening in states with bans, but residents of states where abortion is legal are also making use of the flexibility of telemedicine to access abortion. I've talked to people who live in remote parts of California, in Georgia and Louisiana, who all use telemedicine abortion, and we're grateful they had that option. On a broader scale, telemedicine access is a big part of the reason why the overall number of abortions hasn't gone down at all. Despite the state bans, mifepristone has been found to be safe by the FDA, which says 7.5 million patients have used it since it was approved in 2000. Doctors say the in person requirement is not medically necessary. Major medical groups all asked the Supreme Court to allow telemedicine abortion to continue, which is ultimately what they did for now.

[Michelle Martin]

So the FDA is the named defendant here, but I understand that they didn't actually file a brief to the Supreme Court.

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

Yeah, that's right. The FDA's position in the lower courts has been that the case should be put on ice. The agency says it's conducting a new review of the safety of mifepristone, which was promised, prompted by Republican lawmakers and governors putting pressure on the fda. And its attorneys were saying, let's do that review first. But the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which was the appeals court in this case, did not go along with that plan. And the FDA didn't respond to the appeals court ruling, and it also didn't respond to the justice's request. And that's striking because a key part of this case is about the power of the agency itself. And former FDA leaders, including some who served under Republican presidents and the trade group for Drug Makers, asked the Supreme Court to keep mifepristone available over telemedicine, saying that it relies on a stable and predictable process for FDA to regulate

[Michelle Martin]

medications in the U.S. selena, was the decision unanimous?

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

No. There were two public dissents from Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, and they were pretty pointed. Alito called the decision of his fellow justices unreasoned and remarkable. And Clarence Thomas called the work of the two drug makers a, quote, criminal enterprise.

[Michelle Martin]

Okay, so what is next for this case?

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

It's going back to the lower courts. And FDA's leadership is also in flux as of this week, which could also affect mifepristone. So this is not the end. And whatever happens next, we will be following it.

[Michelle Martin]

That is npr. Selena Simmons, Duff and Selena, thank you.

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

You're welcome.

[Michelle Martin]

The Battle begins. That's a headline out of the United Kingdom today.

[Steve Inskeep]

After a week of political rebellion and resignation letters of cabinet members, contenders are emerging to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his job. We do not know when or if Starmer would go.

[Michelle Martin]

To look back over this tumultuous week in British politics, we go to NPR's Lauren Frayer in London. Lauren, good morning.

[Lauren Frayer]

Good morning.

[Michelle Martin]

So Prime Minister Starmer has a huge majority in Parliament. The next election isn't expected for three years. Why would his party replace him now?

[Lauren Frayer]

It basically comes down to fear of the far right taking power. Let me back up. Starmer is center left. His party's called Labor. They wanted that big majority less than two years ago, seen as sort of a return to stability after a revolving door of prime ministers through Britain's exit from the European Union, which, you'll recall was a little bit of a roller coaster. Um, since then, Starmer's approval ratings have plunged to some of the lowest in history. Polls show voters think he has not delivered on promises to improve government services, help with the cost of living. He's seen as kind of wooden, unable to connect with regular folks in contrast to the populous, chain smoking. Nigel Farage, who casts himself as a man of the people. And his anti immigrant party trounced labor in municipal elections last week. That has sent the political establishment into a frenzy, fearing the same could happen at the national level.

[Michelle Martin]

What does Starmer say about all this?

[Lauren Frayer]

He says, you know, a lot of the things dragging down his approval rating are out of his control. The Iran war, Trump administration's tariffs, the British economy is growing. The health service wait times are down. His immigration. Starmer acknowledges, though he hasn't communicated that well. Here he is in a speech to the nation earlier this week.

[Keir Starmer]

I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.

[Lauren Frayer]

He basically wants more time, but it doesn't look like the party is willing to give that to him.

[Michelle Martin]

So who might replace him then?

[Lauren Frayer]

Probably one of his former allies. None have filed for candidacy yet, though. We had this extraordinary scene this week when King Charles came to Parliament, read out the Prime Minister's agenda for the coming year. But we don't know if this Prime Minister will be in office to implement it. Politics here feels like the popular TV show Traitors. You know, the ruling party is divided into those faithful to the Prime Minister and those who are secretly plotting against him. Here's what it sounded like this week as Cabinet secretaries went back and forth in and out of 10 Downing street

[Keir Starmer]

are you going to resign, Health Secretary? Is that Prime Minister?

[Lauren Frayer]

The Health Secretary West Reading did quit the Cabinet. He might challenge Starmer. Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been cleared of wrongdoing in a tax scandal that might allow her to run. Polls show the most popular candidate, though, would be Andy Burnham, nicknamed King of the North. He's the mayor of Manchester, not an mp, so not eligible to run. He first needs to run in a special election for a vacant seat in Parliament. That would likely be in late June. He has to win that election, which the far right is contesting too, and only after that would he be able to challenge Starmer. So we're looking at a long summer of politics here.

[Michelle Martin]

So after all that, he could actually stay in office.

[Lauren Frayer]

Yeah, Actually, that special election will test Burnham. This is in an area where Farage's Reform Party swept municipal elections. And Farage says he's going to, quote, throw absolutely everything at that election. So if Burnham wins, he goes up against Starmer with, you know, ammunition to say, look, I defeated the far right here. I can do it nationally, if he doesn't win that election, Starmer may be left with no challenger, and the country may be back where we started after a whole lot of drama and some would say, you know, attention diverted from fixing the cost of living and everything else.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Lauren Frayer in London. Lauren, thank you.

[Lauren Frayer]

You're welcome.

[Michelle Martin]

And that's up first for Friday, may 15th. I'm michelle martin.

[Steve Inskeep]

And I'm steve inskeep. Today's up first was edited by kate bartlett, diane weber, tina kraia, mohamed el bardisi and john stolnas. It was produced by ziad buch and nia dumas. Our director is christopher thomas. We get engineering support from zoe van genhove. And our technical director is carly strange. Hi, carly. Our executive producer is jay shaylor. Join us Monday or Saturday or whenever you'd like.